What is your favorite thing to do ... in the winter?

[callmeD]

I was just wondering what everyone likes doing in the winter months. Without a lot of snow or ice, I would like to hear what keeps you busy outdoors, or what drives you indoors during the winter season.

[Island Life]

One of my family's favorite winter activity is to play hockey on our pond. The neighbors come over and help us clear the snow (when necessary) and then we have a game with both adults and kids. Usually, we are laughing so hard that we forget it's cold out. We build a fire near the edge of the pond and serve hot chocolate and cookies.

Also, snowboarding. My kids snowboard a couple nights a week. Sometimes they drag us up the mountain with them, or sometimes I just sit in the lodge and get some work done. Skiing at night is the best - if only it were a bit warmer at night!

[jkjoshuatree]

...sipping scotch by a sizzling fire while snuggled with your sweetie and seeing the stars sparkling in the sky as the moon saunters towards the stratosphere?

That's always a swell time.

[ghfromaltonbay]

There are 3 or 4 families who have become friends since the late 1950's who have all stayed at or near Sandy Point. We come from NJ and Mass. We all come up over the long weekend of Presidents' Day and stay in various places around the lake since Sandy Point is closed for the winter. On Monday we get together for lunch with some of the year round folk, and one couple usually drives up from Newburyport for the day. Last year we had 14 of us at Johnson's for lunch. The year before it was Patrick's Pub and before that Love's Quay. We all look forward to that weekend reunion. It gets us through the winter and makes the wait till May when we can open our camps less unbearable. If the snow is not too deep, we usually drop off a few wash baskets full of linens and clothes at the cottage so we don't have to bring it all up from NJ in May.

[CanisLupusArctos]

Call me crazy, but hiking the White Mountains in winter is one of life's most awe-inspiring, humbling, and peaceful experiences. The picture (which is from near the top of Mount Washington in February 2000) says it all. The disclaimer is that unless you have the right gear and know how to use it, and unless you already know your intended route well, you shouldn't be up there. It takes time to get the expertise and equipment you need, but I think it was worth it. Usually the people who don't think they could ever do it are the ones who should try it, while those who think they could do it easily are asking for trouble.

There's nothing in the world like collapsing in front of the wood stove, amid the company of the close friends with whom you've just shared a strenuous day of mountaineering. You've satisfied every junk food craving you've ever had--just to keep warm and energetic--and you know you've spent double those calories. You're so exhausted and sore (in a good way) that none of your pre-existing "problems" matter anymore, and you're trying to capture the moment with a few words in your journal. You close your eyes and see flashbacks of the day turn into dreams as your writing hand falls limp before finishing the first sentence. The pen mark trailing off the page is your real entry.

[Dave R]

I like to make furniture in Winter. It's something my grandfather taught me to do and I really enjoy it. There's just something theraputic about creating an heirloom with my hands. My shop sees little use in the warmer months though. I've always got some major home renovation project going on all Winter too.

We also: skate on the pond out back, sip matinis by the fireplace, enjoy elaborate home cooked meals, go for long-weekend trips (we call them cabin fever trips) to vist friends in Maine and NJ, and watch football (which has been especially gratifying lately).

[phoenix]

getting away from it

[SIKSUKR]

Sunny winter days spent outdoors are the most exilerating thrills in life.If you don't alpine or cross-country ski,ice climb,skate,or winter hike,try bundling up and snowshoeing trails on or near the lake.On a sunny day,with that crisp clean winter air,there is nothing like the feeling of coming back to your shelter and warming by a crackling fire.I love summer but I can't imagine life without all of the seasons we are blessed with here in New England.I don't understand why people stay here if they dislike winter so much.GET OUT THERE and soak up the GOOD LIFE!!You don't know what your missing!!!

[jkjoshuatree]

Everytime I find myself complaining about the rain in the spring, the humidity in the summer, the lack of a fall, and the cold in the winter, I catch myself and realize how lucky we New Englanders are.

There's nothing like the four seasons. I would never give it up.

But besides all that, we are blessed geographically too.

Four hours from NYC, three hours from some of the best skiing in the East, two hours from Winni and the Bershires, and an hour from the Cape, the seacoast, and Providence.

I love New England. And as much as I love to travel, I can't wait to get back here every time.

[HomeWood]

Hanging out on the ice with the guys and riding to the Village kitchen for breakfast on the sled. My most favorite thing to do in the winter is to just sit on the ice watching my traps and relaxing!

[rander7823]

The real way not with one of those log splitters. Good old fashioned axe maul and maybe a wedge.
Nothing like seeing that log split in two and fly all over the place

[callmeD]

With recent low temps and high winds, it's my guess that the lake will be frozen soon - a good thing for all you ice fishing people out there.

The responses are great - keep 'em coming!

[Frdxplorer]

Originally Posted by CanisLupusArctos

The disclaimer is that unless you have the right gear and know how to use it, and unless you already know your intended route well, you shouldn't be up there.

While absolutely agreeing, people should also not be scared away from winter hiking. There are lots of much easier trails that, while perhaps not providing a view quite like the one from Washington, are still very rewarding.

[pmj]

I like winter walking on the beach. The beach is the best place to be in the winter, with no crowds.
I am also an armchair sailor in the winter and read lots of books about sailing.

[Coolbreeze]

Have lots of sex...and I mean alot!

[HomeWood]

Originally Posted by Coolbreeze

Have lots of sex...and I mean alot!

Now tell us how you really feel.

[Coolbreeze]

I hope my last post gave somebody out there a giggle. I know my wife doesn't think its funny, but that winter air just gives me such ENERGY!

[Resident 2B]

The ".....and I mean alot!" really hit a spot on my funny bone.

Sorry your wife does not like your post. I enjoyed a real good laugh.

Thanks!

R2B

[tricia1218]

I like to plan a vacation to Key West!

[CanisLupusArctos]

Originally Posted by Frdxplorer

While absolutely agreeing, people should also not be scared away from winter hiking. There are lots of much easier trails that, while perhaps not providing a view quite like the one from Washington, are still very rewarding.

You are definitely right. To add to what you just said, I had an outdoorsy high school teacher who told me (in my pre-mountaineering days) that the views from the lower mountains are better than the views on the higher ones, because those higher mountains only look BIG when you're looking up at them. As a 16-year-old I didn't see the point of climbing anything small, or even taking a simple hike through a flat area with a view. I didn't know how right he was until I'd seen for myself: The White Mountains look small from the top of Mount Washington! I had to use my long lens to give them justice in my photos.

The size of any winter hike still shouldn't matter when it comes to preparing- I don't know how many times I've heard about lost, unprepared people getting rescued from Mount Major in Alton.

[mets3007]

For me its easy since I live in New York, count down the days til I return to NH.

[SAMIAM]

Tricia....I second Key West.We've been going there for many years and next to the lakes region it's our favorite place.Balmy breezes, great restaurants,shops and beaches....and you can walk around town with a cocktail.How nice is that ?

[dpg]

Sitting in waiting for summer. Also getting away from the cold like my Caribbean cruise in February does the trick.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Tricia....I second Key West.We've been going there for many years and next to the lakes region it's our favorite place.Balmy breezes, great restaurants,shops and beaches....and you can walk around town with a cocktail.How nice is that ?

Oh ya!Going from Sloppy's to Rick's,to the Hog's trough with the same drink.Gotta love that!

[tricia1218]

Samian, Siksukr,
Any place you can recommend would be well appreciated, this will be our first visit to the keys! We are also hoping to make it a favorite place, 2nd to the lake of course!

[SteveA]

Great place!

http://floridakeyswebcams.tv/

[SteveA]

This is our favorite restaurant.... you won't find a more "Key West" type place.

You eat out in the backyard on a collection of old lawn tables .. with chickens roming the grounds...

BUT... the food is first class, and the people who run the place are terrific..

5 Stars!

http://blueheavenkw.homestead.com/Bl..._Key_West.html

BLUE HEAVEN...a Key West restaurant in a casual setting
Indoor and outdoor dining, indoor bar and tiki bar, live entertainment and roosters daily

[fatlazyless]

Hello.....what with my car newly dead and gone to the junk yard, an outboard engine that's frozen, and both local Meredith ice ramps all iced in; I like to sit in the hot tub with an adult beverage, stare up at the oak trees, look across to Gunstock, and try to mentally just melt away and forget about this whole mess......ahem!

[Waterbaby]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Hello.....what with my car newly dead and gone to the junk yard, an outboard engine that's frozen, and both local Meredith ice ramps all iced in; I like to sit in the hot tub with an adult beverage, stare up at the oak trees, look across to Gunstock, and try to mentally just melt away and forget about this whole mess......ahem!

just posting to send you a great big hug (((((((HUG)))))))), FLL, sounds like you really need it..... read about your boat in another place, and now your car is, ahem, passed away...... you definitely need to "go to another place"!!!!!! (repeating the (((((HUG))))) )!!!!!!!!!!

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Hello.....what with my car newly dead and gone to the junk yard, an outboard engine that's frozen, and both local Meredith ice ramps all iced in; I like to sit in the hot tub with an adult beverage, stare up at the oak trees, look across to Gunstock, and try to mentally just melt away and forget about this whole mess......ahem!

In situations like this you need to find an agressive therapy. Alcohol is a good start but frankly isn't long term enough to be effective. I recommend that you resort to LRSC. Sure LRSC is thought to be for male mid-life crisis but I think it'll work here too. Now you don't have to go whole hog, you can go used Japanese. It's not WallyWorld exactly but as close as you can come w/LRSC. Should the malais resist this, then I would say it's time to spare no expense and when Ice Out happens ....get a Donzi. Yup, flashy and $$s but pretty much a sure cure.

*LRSC = Lil Red Sports Car (though it doesn't have to be red and I 'spose it could be a GT but that's where I draw the line)

[Island Girl]

The is nothing like zooming across the lake on a snowmobile... especially with a few inches of new snow... good friends, and a lot of laughs.

The lake seems smaller in the winter and can be traversed more quickly... enabling us to see so much more in less time. Breathing in the cool air, sunshine on my face, solitude within a group of nutty Babes on Sleds... just perfect!

Otherwise, curling up with a good book, a fire in the fireplace, and under either Quilt Lady's quilt or one of my mother's afghans.

IG